Aussies Aboard

[gambine]

Yes I think the team is half Croatian. I'm sure that Vidmar, Culina, Didulica and Simunic are Croats. I'm pretty good with names as realtes to their nationality, but I'm not sure about the other players that were mentioned. I still expected more Italians on the team though.

[gambine]

Yes I think the team is half Croatian. I'm sure that Vidmar, Culina, Didulica and Simunic are Croats. I'm pretty good with names as realtes to their nationality, but I'm not sure about the other players that were mentioned. I still expected more Italians on the team though.

[Mrs Stankovic]

Did you know that there are currently more than 100 Australian soccer players currently plying their trade in overseas leagues, far and wide?

It's a pretty impressive statistic, and while the actual number fluctuates on a weekly basis … this week it's 111 … it's an amazing number of exports, and a credit to Clubs across the board in Australia, as well as State Federations and Sport Institutes, whose structure and staff lend a vital hand in the production and polishing of such valuable talent.

Australians, including many LG Socceroos, have cracked the best Leagues in the world.

Playing regularly in the English Premier League are Mark Bosnich (Manchester United), Harry Kewell (Leeds United), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), John Aloisi (Coventry City) and Richard Johnson (Watford) … the Italian Serie A - Paul Okon at Fiorentina … the German Bundesliga - Ned Zelic and Paul Agostino at 1860 Munich, David Zdrilic at SSV Ulm, Frank Juric at Bayer Leverkusen and Josip Simunic at Hertha Berlin … the Dutch First Division - Zeljko Kalac at Roda JC, and LG Under-23 team-mates Joe Didulica and Jason Culina at Ajax .. while the Scottish Premier League boasts Craig Moore and Tony Vidmar at Rangers, and Mark Viduka at Celtic.

Home grown talent also features in the English lower divisions, the Greek First Division, the Belgian and Austrian Leagues, the Croatian First Division and in the many leagues through Asia, including the Japanese "J" League … among others.

Aussies Abroad is the weekly update on the exploits of these overseas based boys. It's impossible to update every single achievement every single week … but we try.

Unfortunately, there are some Australians who don't get a mention, and they are players who are ineligible to play for Australia under FIFA Rules … including the likes of Tony Dorigo (Derby County & England), Sasa Ilic (Charlton Athletic, West Ham on loan & Yugoslavia), Jamie McMaster (Leeds United & England) and Ante Seric (Verona & Croatia).

Aussies Abroad - I will be bringing you profiles each week!

------------------
<A HREF="http://www.delije.net
www.dejanstankovic.co.yu" TARGET=_blank>www.delije.net
www.dejanstankovic.co.yu</A>

[gambine]

I think Australia face what is called a double edged sword. I don't know if you've ever heard that saying but I'll explain it to you in an analogy.

Having so many people who came from Europe, they can establish a competitive team. At the same time, they risk losing players because these players opt to play for their "homeland" so to speak.

There seems to quite a few Croatians on the NT, and a few Yugoslavs. How do you think they get along?

I thought there would be more Italians on the team as well. You know Vieri had the option of playing for Australia but chose Italy. Wouldn't that have been sweet for you to see. You could then boast that one of the best players in the world is Australian.

[Vatreni]

Is it true that half of Australia's NT is Croatian, including Captain Zelic, Viduka, and the first 4 goalkeepers?

[Mrs Stankovic]

Basically, yes, HEAPS of the players are Croatian (although I am a Serb) :rolleyes:

Bosnich, Kalac, Popovic, Skoko, Viduka, Zdrilic and Zelic are the officially listed regulars that are Croatian...While Curcija and Petkovic are Serbian :D But the others are mostly Greek and a few Italians, with the others being Australian!

------------------
<A HREF="http://www.delije.net
www.dejanstankovic.co.yu" TARGET=_blank>www.delije.net
www.dejanstankovic.co.yu</A>

[AusDelija]

Gambine

the Vidmar brother's aren't croatian i think there from south america but don't quote me on that... And Vatreni in contrast to what you might think all the serbs and croats on the Aus team get along quite well.

My friend Milan Blagojevic played for Australia few years ago...currently playing for Parra Power, his best friends were Zelic, Bosnich, Okon, Arambasic. We do not all hate each other.

[gambine]

I didn't think you all did. I was just wondering how it affected the players.

[Mrs Stankovic]

It actually doesn't!

------------------
<A HREF="http://www.delije.net
www.dejanstankovic.co.yu" TARGET=_blank>www.delije.net
www.dejanstankovic.co.yu</A>

[GERMANIC]

another Aussie born player has turned down his home country in favor of Croatia, Ajax goalie Didiluca .http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=123197&cpid=219&title=Didulica+set+to+upset+SocceRoos

[Chester City FC]

Scott Guyett played at division 2 level for Oxford before joining Chester.